Remotely controlled recording system



Sept. l, 1953 R. KOBLER REMOTELY-CONTROLLED RECORDING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 6

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOTELY CONTROLLED RECORDING SYSTEM Application January 6, 1951, Serial No. 204,794

This invention relates especially to dictationrecording systems wherein the dictators station is` remote from the dictating machine itself, and more particularly the invention relates to improved electrical circuit arrangements for such systems which 'enable dictation recording, playback, correction markings, and other indicating functions for transcribers usually associated with dictating machines, to be performed at a remote station, or at any one of a plurality of remote stationsy with the use of a minimumnumber of lead wires between each remote station and the home station where the dictating machine is located, hereinafter referred to as the attendants station.

My invention relates also particularly to improyement's in remotely-controlled dictation-recording systems which enable such systems to operate satisfactorily with the use of a single recording machine. Normally, to permit in remotely-controlled systems an uninterrupted recordation of. dictation, especially of any one dictation uniti. e., any single complete subject matter such as a letter, memorandum, routine report, medical case report, etc. of normal length-a pair of sequentially-operated recordmachines are provided at the attendants station so as to permit a change of record on one machine while the recordation of dictation is continued on the othermachine. The use of sequential'` machines adds materially to the cost of the remotely-controiled system, so much so as to place the system out of the price range of many applications, particularly since the dictation-recording machines themselves represent so large a percentage of the overall cost of any remotelycontrolled'` system.

The improvement according tc my invention which enables' the use of a single dictation-recording machine ina remotely-controlled system is` based on the observation that certain major users of dictation-recording machines spend on the average about two minutes to record a dictation unit and that they record on the average about two dictation units, for a total of about four toY iive minutes use of the machine, during each dictation period,v the term dictation period being herein used to mean the time elapsed from the lifting ofV the hand set from its support to the instant it is returned` back onto its support. Remote-station dicators have no objections to the operation of the machine being suspended temporarily for a change of record so long as such suspension fails between Vsuccessive dictation periods.` Suspensions which come between succes- 19 Claims. (Cl. 179-1001) sive dictation periods are generally never detec'tedV by the dictator, because many such suspensions will occur 4between dictation periods oi different dictators, and even when the suspenion comes between successive dictation periods by the same dictator, the attendant will normally make the record chang-e before the dictator has assembled his material for the start of the nextsucceeding period. By my inven'tion, the dictating`machine system is controlled in a novel manner lnormally to prevent the start of a dictation period at' such far point along the record that the period cannot be finished within the remainingl recordationtime on the record.

Accordingly, a general` object of my invention is to provide improvements and simplifications in remotely-controlled dictation systems which enable such systems toV be made and sold at appreciably lower cost than has been heretofore possible.

Another object is to provide improved controllling circuits and. combinations of such circuits for remotely-controlled dictation-recording systems, which permit all necessary control functions to be fulfilled, and` the audio circuits to be completed, through the Amedium of only four wires running from each remote station.

Another object is to provide remotely-controlled dictation recording systems wherein' warning signals of different level and character are fed into thev communication line to apprise the dictator as to the condition of the machine.

A further object is to provide a simplified remotely-controlled dictation-recording systemwherein -each remote station has a lesser number of manual controls than the number of control functions to be performed, and wherein certain of 'the control functions are performed ink response to selected combinations of the manualV controls..

A further object is to provide such simpliiied system wherein the less frequent control operations are eiiected in response to operation of combinations of the manual controls.

Another object is to provide a simplified system of the character referred to wherein selected sequential operation of a plurality of the manual controls is required to effect a certain control function.

Another object is to provide a simplified system of' the character mentioned wherein three different` control functions are performed selectively by establishing the current in the control circuit at three difieren-t levels.

-As will appear, the present system is a further 3 development of the novel remotely-controlled dictation recording system shown and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 701,896, led October 8, 1946, and entitled Remote Controlled Recording Machine, and issued April 3, 1951, as Patent No. 2,547,216.

The foregoing objects and features of my invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In the description of my invention reference is had to the accompanying schematic drawing showing circuits and mechanisms of a remotelycontrolled dictation-recording system embodying the features of my invention.

The system shown in the accompanyingI drawing to illustrate my invention comprises an attendants station generally referred to as I0, and one or more remote dictators stations of which one referred to as II is shown in full and another referred to as IIa is represented diagrammatically, it being understood that all dictators stations are alike. The dictators stations are connected in parallel with each other and to the attendants station by means of four leads running from each station, there being the leads I2, I3, I4 and I5 connecting station I I to the attendants station and four branch leads I2a, I3a, I4a and I5a connecting the other station II a to the attendants station.

The attendants station includes a single dictation-recording machine I6 which, for the present purposes, may be shown fractionally and to a large extent diagrammatically. This machine comprises a turntable I1 journalled in a bearing I8 and driven by a motor M through a shaft I9, clutch 20, shaft 2|, drive pulley 22 and belt 23 which engages a track on the periphery of the turntable. A carriage feed screw 24 is driven by the turntable through a gear 25 mounted on the under side of the turntable, a pinion gear 26 on a shaft 21 which meshes with the gear 25, and right-angle gearing 28 which connects the shaft 21 to the feed screw. A carriage 29, which is mounted for movement across the turntable by any suitable means not shown, is driven as from left to right by the feed screw 24 through a feed nut 30. This carriage supports a recording device 3| and a reproducing device 32 both of which are shown only diagrammatically. These devices are controlled through any suitable well-known mechanism, not herein necessary to show, so that both are moved onto a record disc R on the turntable I1 as a control lever C on the carriage 29 is moved to record position, so that both are moved away from the record disc as the lever C is moved to a neutral position, and so that only the reproducer 32 is moved onto the record disc as the control lever C is moved to a reproduce position. The reproducer is set at a fixed trailing distance from the recorder. The attendant normally leaves the control lever C in record position, Only during a change of record is this lever moved to neutral position, and only on special instructions from the dictator is the lever ever put in reproduce position. Since, when the lever C is in record position, both the recorder and reproducer are in engagement with the record, with the latter at a trailing distance from the former, a dictator may reproduce the recorded matter between these devices merely by shifting the electrical circuit connections of the devices without mechanically shifting them with respect to therecord. This permits the dictator to reproduce the last line or so of his dictation with the use of only simple control apparatus and without possible re-recording on the record with resultant eradication of matter already recorded.

The record disc R is held on the turntable by a suitable clamp 33 herein shown simply as a plunger 34 slidably mounted in a frame member 35 and having a clamping and centering'head 36 at its lower end for engaging the central hub portion of the disc as the plunger is moved downwardly as by a handle 31 pivoted to the frame.

The audio circuits of the phonograph per se comprise an audio transformer 38 the secondary of which is connected by leads 39a and 39h, of which the lead 39h is a ground for the audio circuits, through a switch pole 40 and contact 40a to an equalizer and volume-control device 4I herein only diagrammatically shown since the invention is not concerned with the device per se. The volume-control device 4I is connected by leads 42, through a switch pole 43 and contact 43a, to a voltage amplifier 44 herein also only diagrammatically shown. The voltage amplifier 44 is connected by leads 45, through a switchpole 4B and contact 46a, to a power amplifier 41 likewise only diagrammatically shown. The power amplifier 41 feeds into a power output transformer 48 having two secondary windings 48a and 48h. These secondary windings can be serially connected by leads 49 through a vswitch pole 50 and contact 50a, and the outer ends of these windings are connected by leads 5I to the recorder 3|. Thus, when the switch pole 50 engages the contact 50a, a circuit is completed from the transformer to the recorder 3I to feed into this device signals for recordation on the recordv disc R.

All of the switch poles 40, 43, 46 and 5U are tied together mechanically to work in unison, as in herein later described. When the poles engage the respective associated contacts having the suffix letter aj the audio system is condi' tioned for recording-i. e., signals that are fed into the audio transformer 38 are amplified and fed into the recorder 3I to be recorded on the record disc.

Associated with each of the four switch poles above-mentioned is a second contact bearing the number of the switch pole with the suilix letter 11. When the switch poles are thrown to make with the b contacts, the reproducer 32 is connected by leads 52, through pole 43 and contactl 43b, to the voltage amplifier 44, the voltage ampliiier 44 is in turn connected through a volume control 52a, pole 46 and contact 4Gb to the power amplifier 41, and the power amplifier 41 is in turn connected by a lead 53, blocking condenser 53a and contact 40D to pole 40 to connect the amplier output to the audio transformer 38. Thus, signals picked up by the reproducer are'now fed through the voltage and power amplifiers to the audio transformer. As will be apparent, these signals are fed to the dictators station.

The audio transformer 38 is connected in a communication circuit leading to each of the dictators stations via the leads I2 and I3. This communication circuit, which is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the circuit I2-I3, has

a reference or ground side represented by the' Also, in this communication circuit, atV

each station, there is an on-off station switch 51 comprising .stationary contacts 58 and cooperating movable pole members 59 which are Ainterconnected by an insulating bridge 59a and which are urged upwardly normally to engage the contacts 58. Asupport for the hand set 54 is associated with the station switch to cause the station switch to lbe held open whenever the hand set is placed therein, lsuch support being herein diagrammatically represented by Aa hook extension 60 on one of the pole members of the `station switch.

The communication circuit I2-I3 has therein a source of direct current for energizing the microphone '5ta and 4for control purposes in accordance with my application Serial No. '701,896 aforementioned. This source comprises a fullwave rectiiier 6I connected via a power transformer 62 and power line 53, having therein a master control switch Gli. to a plug 53a which is to `be connected to a sui-table A.C. power line notshown. The rectified current from the source 6! is nltered by three shunt condensers 65 across the lines I2 and I3 and two intervening choke coils B serially in the line I2. In the 'filtered portion of the communication circuit there are three control relays El, 63 and t9 in series, the relay I'i being in the line I2 and the relays Bil and S9 being in the ground line i3. (This line I3 is maintained effectively at ground potential by connection thereof through condenser IIS to the ground side or" the power line 63.) Since the communication circuit also carries audio signals between the audio transformer 33 and the hand set 54, the relay coil is preceded by a shunt condenser 'l0 and the relays 68 and 69 are shunted by a-condenser 'II so that the audio currents will be shunted around these high-impedance inductive elements.

The three relays 68, 6l and y69 are adapted to operate, in the order here named, at predetermined successively-higher D.C. current levels, as in the manner'of the two relays in my pending application aforementioned. In order to establish these current levels for successive operation of the relay 68 alone, of the relays t? and 58, and of all three relays, there are provided voltage cut-down resistors 12 and 'I3 in series in the communication circuit at each station. The resistor 'i2 is shorted out by a push-operable switch 'i4 in the hand set Eli and both resistors' lii and vi3 are shorted out by a single-pole doublethrow push-operable switch I and an associated lead "it, In the normal position of the switch 'i5 shown in the drawing, the same connects a condenser bypass circuit 'I'I around these resistors so that they do not impede the flow of the audio currents.

In the present application the term operated is used in relation to the switches 51, M and 15 to mean that their push-operable members are depressed. Thus, station switch 5l is in orf or open position when operated and in on or closed position when unoperated, switch 't4 is closed when operated and switch 'I5 is connected tothe snorting line 'i6 when operated.

When the hand set 5o is on its support, the station switch 5l is held-operated inopen position to disconnect the station lfrom the communication circuit. As the hand set 54 is removed, the station switch returns to its normally-closed condition to establish the lowest-level D.C. current in the communication circuit through both voltage cut-down resistors 'i2 and 'i3 to cause operation of only relay t8. -When, 'while the 6. hand set is on its support, the dictator depress'es switch 'It to short resistor 12, the next higher level of D.C. current is established and both relays el and t8 are operated. Alternatively, if while the hand set is ofi its support the dictator depresses switch l5, the third and highest current level is established in the communication circuit to cause all three relays to be operated.

The relay 68 operates a switch pole '18, as represented by the tie line 68a, to cause this pole to engage normally a switch contact 1S. When the relay is energized, this pole is moved .into engagement with a contact Sli. As ythe pole engages the latter contact, a circuit for the motor M is completed across the power line 63 via a lead line BI from the grounded side of the power line, pole it, ccntactt and line 8 ia through the motor to the other side of the power line. The motor is typically of the D.C. type, and is accordingly connected in series with a rectifier 32 and a lter resistor S3, and -in shunt with a filter condenser iii. Also, a primary winding of a transformer t5 is connected across the -power line through the circuits 8| and 81a, when the pole i3 makes with the contact ttl. The secondary of Ithis transformer is connected through the interstation leads it and i5 and resistor -D to a lamp- L at each station, herein called a busy signal lamp, the purpose of resistor D being -to permit compensation fordifferent lengths of leads land as when the dictators stations are at different distances from the attendants station, so that all busy lights will have the same brilliance. Thus, when any one dictator removes the hand set Sli from its support, the relay 68 is operated to cause the motor M to run and t0 cause busy lights to go on at all stations. A closure of the audio circuit I2-I3 by removal or a handset from its support at any one of the remote stations, and/or a starting of a drive motor M or other conditioning of the drive means for start-stop operation of the system, is herein considered to be an activation of the Vsystem for operation.

The relay yi'l operates a switch pole 86, as represented by the tie line 61a, -which vnormally makes with a contact 3l and which is moved to a contact 8B when the relay is actuated. Switch pole 86 is connected to the line VBI running from the grounded side of the power line 63, whereas the contacts 8i and 8B are connected respectively to stop and start coils 89 land Siti of an electromagnetic clutch actuator 9i. This clutch actuator has a pivoted armature 92 carrying a switch pole 93 and is connected to the ungrounded side of the power line 63 by a lead 93a. The switch pole 93 makes contact with the end terminal of the stop coil B9 as the start coil 9i) is energized vand with the end :terminal of the start coil as the stopcoil 89 is energized, the operation being thus to -break the circuit oi whichever coil is energized and to prepare the circuit of theother coil for subsequent energization. rThe armature 92 is connected to the Vmovable element oi the clutch 2G, by a connection 913 diagrammatically represented, so as to engage 'this clutch to start the turntable rotating as the Vstart coil Slt is energized and to disengage the clutch to stop the turntable as the stop coil 89 is energized. Since the pole 86 makes normally with the contact 3l, the stop coil 89 is normally the last energized and the clutch is normally disengaged however, as a dictator closes the push switch lahereinaiter termed the start-stop switch, vthe relay 6l Ais energized to move the pole 86 against the contact 88 wherefore to energize the start coil 90 and cause the clutch to be engaged. As the start-stop switch 14 is next released, the reverse action takes place.

The relay 69 comprises the four single-pole, double-throw switches of the audio circuit of the dictating machine hereinbefore described, which are the switches having poles 40, 43, 46 and U respectively. These switch poles are mechanically interconnected and associated with the relay as represented diagrammatically by the tie line 69a. When the relay 69 is unenergized, which is its normal condition, the four switches occupy the positions shown to condition the audio system for recording from the microphone 55 via the communication circuit |2|3, audio transformer` 38 and the amplier system to the recorder 3|. When, however, the switch 15 is depressed-this being hereafter termed the playback switch-not only are the relays 61 and 68 energized to cause the motor M to run and the clutch 20 to be engaged, but also the relay 69 is energized to condition the system for reproduction from the reproducer 31 via the amplier system, audio transformer 38 and communication circuit |2|3 to the receiver 56. In all cases so long as the station switch 51 is in its unoperated or closed position, whether the dictator is recording, reproducing or merely holding the machine on stand-by, all busy lights L will be on.

As is customary in dictation-recording systems, provision is made to enable the dictator to make indicating marks for the transcriber to aid in transcribing the recorded material, such as correction marks, length marks, rush marks, etc. These devices are usually termed indexing devices. Indexing devices, which are themselves well known, may be solenoid-operated, and for illustration purposes one such solenoid 95 is herein shown which may for instance be for making correction marks, the most important of the several indications mentioned. However, in order that each dictation station will not require an additional control for this indexing device, with additional wiring running from the station, the present system is arranged to enable handy control of the indexing device through suitable manipulation of a combination of the aforementioned controls at the dictators station. One convenient manipulation for the dictator to put the correction device in operation is to depress the station switch 51 momentarily during the recording operationi. e., while holding depressed the start-stop switch 54. In order that this manipulation will so energize the device 95, the same is connected in a circuit 96 leading from the contact 19 of the motor control relay 68 to the end terminal of the stop coil 89 of the clutch actuator 9|. Since the start coil 90 is the one last energized, and the pole 93 makes then momentarily with the end terminal of the stop coil 89, during the act of recording dictation, a momentary depression of the station switch 5'1 while this condition exists will cause relay 68 to be deenergized and the pole 18 to make with the contact 19 Wherefore to complete a circuit from the power line 63 through the solenoid S5 via the line 8|, pole 18, contact 19, line 96, pole 93 and lead 93a.

Although the relay l|51 is also deenergized as the station switch 51 is operated, the discharge time of the coil of the relay 61 through the associated condenser is large relative to that of the coil of the relay 68 through its associated condenser 1| so that the release of the relay 61 is delayed with respect to that of the relay 68. Therefore, the pole 86 of the relay 61 continues to make with the contact 88 until after the pole 18 of the relay 68 is returned to the contact 19 to enable a momentary completion of the circuit of the indicating device 95. As soon as the relay 61 releases the pole 86, however, a circuit is completed through the stop coil 89 of the clutch actuator 9| to cause the pole 93 to break contact with the stop coil 89 and to thereby open the circuit of the correction device 95. The correction device will accordingly be energized only momentarily, which is as desired. However, proper sequence of operation of switches 51 and 14 is required-i. e., the start-stop switch 14 must be held operated as the station switch 51 is depressed-else the clutch actuator pole 93 will not make with the line 96 to complete the circuit of the indicating device 95 as the relay '68 is deenergized. The required sequence comes however naturally to the dictator since he will want to make correction indications as soon as the need is detected and may do so simply by momentarily depressing the station switch 51 without otherwise interrupting his dictationrecording procedure.

An important feature of my invention which makes it feasible from a practical standpoint to serve several dictators stations with the use of a single dictation-recording machine is in the provision of an intermediate control, herein in the form of a switch 91, to control a warning signal, or to provide any other suitable control action or indication, which normally will prompt the attendant to change the record on the machine at the rst opportunity upon the dictator placing the handset 54 on its support, and thereby terminating a dictation period, after having recorded into an intermediate end zone on the record having less than sufficient recordation space therein for a succeeding dictation period of normal or average length. 'Ihe preselected point along the record marking the beginning of this intermediate end zone is in the second half portion of the record, typically at a three-quarter point along the record for a record having fteen minutes recordation time. The control switch 91 is accordingly herein termed an intermediate end switch. This intermediate end switch is normally open and is operated closed by the carriage 29, as by a projecting arm 98 of the carriage slidably engaging a pole 99 of the intermediate switch, as the carriage moves past the selected intermediate point. On the pole 99 there is an extending dwell portion 99a. which is engaged by the arm 98 to maintain the switch closed so long as the carriage is beyond the preselected point.

By way of illustration, the intermediate end switch 91 is herein shown as controlling a buzzer |00 at the attendants station. The buzzer is connected from the line 8|, which leads from the grounded side of the power line 63, through a lead line |0| including the buzzer and the intermediate switch, to the lead lines 8|a. As the intermediate end switch is closed by the advancing movement of the carriage, the buzzer is not immediately operated because the pole 18 then engages the contact to place a short across the buzzer through the lines 8| and 8|a. However, as soon as the dictator hangs up the handset 54, the resultant opening of the station switch 51 causes the switch pole 18 to break with contact 80 wherefore to remove the short across the buzzer. The buzzer is then connected serially with the primary of transformer 85 across the power line 53 to cause both it and the busy signals to be energized, and to cause a neon light |03 at the attendants station to be dimmed and to flicker as later described. Thus, as soon as the dictator nishes using the machine after having passed the selected intermediate point on the record, the attendant is warned that the record on the machine should be changed and all busy lights stay on to warn all dictators against now resuming operation of the machiney However, since the primary of the transformer 85 is now in series with the buzzer |00, the voltage fed to the busy lights is less and the busy lights are dimmer than normal.

Although only a moment is required to change a record on the machine, it is important that no dictator start using the machine until the record change is completed. Accordingly, the attendant is provided with a control switch |02 connected in shunt with the buzzer and the intermediate end switch 91 from line 8| to line Ela. Before changing the record, the attendant L vcloses the switch |02 to .disable the buzzer and to complete the circuit of the primary of transformer 85 across the power line S3 to maintain all station busy lights on. This will restore the busy lights to normal brilliance. As a warning to the attendant that this control switch is closed, a signaling means suitably in the form of a neon light |03 is connected from the lead Bla to the lead 93a running to the ungrounded side of the power line. vided with means to maintain the busy lights on at all stations during the changing of the record so as to warn the dictators against then proceeding with the recordation of any dictation; and also, the attendant is warned by the light |03 against inadvertently leaving the switch |02 closed and the busy lights on after the change or record is completed. The neon light |03 serves also as an indication to the attendant to inform her when the motor M is running since in normal use the circuit for this neon light is completed through the switch 18-80 only when the motor M is running. When the dictator completes dictating after the intermediate end switch has been closed, the neon light |03 remains on even though the motor M is now stopped, but the voltage across it will be only that appearing across the primary of the transformer 85 and will be interrupted because of the buzzer |0| being in circuit; as a result, the neon light |03 will be dimmer, the same as the busy lights L; in addition, the neon light will iiicker. However, as soon as the attendant closes the manual switch |02, the neon light |03 is restored to normal brilliance.

Further, hand switch |02 may have a second pair of contacts |020/l connected by leads |021) across the lter coils B6 and relay coil 6'! in the communication circuit |2--|3, so that when the hand switch is closed, preliminary to making a record change, a heavy hum will be fed into the communication circuit to warn a dictator positively against then attempting to record dictation, and the relay |51 is disabled to prevent a dictator from inadvertently starting the turntable.

In changing a record, the attendant releases the clamp 33, removes the record R from the turntable, puts on a new record, and restores the clamp. In order to warn the attendant against inadvertently failing' to restore the clamp, a sig- Thus, the attendant is pronaling means is provided asin the form of a light |04. This light is controlled to give a steady light whenever the record clamp is in operative position and to give a hashing light when the clamp is released. For this purpose, a flashing device |05 is provided, which for instance may be a low-frequency electronic oscillator of the form shown in the pending application Serial No. 35,885 of Richard M. Somers, led June 29, 1948, entitled Signaling Systems for Dictating Machines, and having a common assignee with the present application. Such electronic flashing device is well known in the art and need not be herein described, it being accordingly shown only diagrammatically in the drawing. Suicient for the present purposes are the statements that this device is supplied with power through a lead line |06, that the device has a control switch |01 which when open will cause steady current to be fed to the signal light |04 and which when closed will cause intermittent current to be supplied to the light -to cause the light to flash, and that the device has an output lead |03 for supplying an intermittent electric current for other signaling purposes. In accordance with the signaling here desired, the switch |01 is coupled -to the clamp 33 through a mechanical connecting means |09 to cause the switch to be closed when the clamp is released and to be open when the clamp is in operative position.

As heretofore explained, the underlying concept on the basis of which I provide the novel intermediate end switch 91 is that the usual length of a dictation period requires normally a deilnite portion of the recordation time on the dictating-machine record. By positioning this switch so that there is a normal dictation period of recordation time on the record following the switch, and by providing apparatus controlled by this switch to cause the attendant to be warned by the buzzer |00 whenever the dictator hangs up the hand set 54 after having recorded beyond the selected intermediate point on the record, a record change will be made before the next dictator begins using the machine. Thus, each dictator is normally assured of having available not less than suflicient recordation space on the record for a normal dictation period.

Since the attendant needs only a moment to change a record, such a change will normally be completed well within the interim period between the completion of a dictation period by one dictator and the start of another dictation period by a second dictator. Accordingly, the dictators are normally unaware that the availability of the machine is momentarily suspended. This will be true even when a dictator records through several dictation periods in succession since he will hang up the hand set lill momentarily to arrange his material before beginning the next-succeeding period. If the dictator does not hang up the telephone instrument at the completion of a dictation period it will be normally for the purpose of recording a few short notes or short memoranda. In view of the machine being controlled in the manner above described, there will normally be sufficient space on the record for the recordation of such short matters.

If the dictator should proceed to near the end portion of the record, a warning signal is fed into the communication circuit, to be heard through the receiver 56, to apprise the dictator that he is nearing the end of the record. Typically, this signal is initiated when there is left only about thirty seconds of recordation time on the record. This signal is obtained from the line |08 of the flasher device |06, which line may have a usual blocking condenser |00. In order that the flashing circuit will be then operative, and the attendant will be warned by the light |04 of the impending need for a record change, a switch l I I is connected in shunt with the switch |01 and is positioned in the path of the arm 98 of the carriage to cause it to be closed as the carriage nears the end portion of its travel. After the carriage has closed the switch ||I, the same moves the elements of this switch III onwardly against an insulating button II2 provided on a switch arm I|3 connected to the line |08 from which the end signaling is obtained, as just described. The onward movement of the carriage causes the switch arm I I3 to engage a switch arm I I4 which connects to the filtered side of the communication circuit, wherefore to feed the signal from the device |05 to the receiver 56 at the dictators station. This is a short periodic signal repeated at a relatively slow rate and at a low level so as not to disturb the dictator or to destroy the intelligibility of the signals in the communication circuit to be recorded. Thus, the dictator is permitted to finish the recordation of a last few words or a sentence after this end signal comes on. However, as the carriage nears the very end of the record, the switch arm H4 is moved into engagement with a switch arm |I5 that is connected to the uniiltered side of the communication circuit. The effect of this connection is to short out the filter coils 66 and relay coil 6T in the communication circuit to cause the drive system to be disabled and to cause heavy hum to be fed from the rectifier 6I to the receiver 56, the same as when the hand switch |02 is closed, as hereinbefore explained. This hum from the rectifier 6I has such frequency and level as to destroy the intelligibility of any signals fed into the communication circuit from the microphone and to apprise the dictator positively of the necessity of terminating the recordation as to that record.

After having received the heavy warning signal from the rectifier 6I, the dictator will hang up the hand set 54 and await the change of record by the attendant. The attendant will be warned doubly to make this change immediately since not only the buzzer will then come on but also the light |04 will flash and the neon light |03 will be dimmed and will ilicker. As an incident of making the record change, the attendant will return the carriage to its initial position and will cause all of the switch arms III through II to be restored to their open condition as shown in the drawing. After putting a new record on the turntable, restoring the record clamp 33 and then opening the switch |02, the machine will be ready for recordation of dictation on the new record. The dictator will be apprised of this condition by the busy lights going off as the attendant opens the switch |02. Upon the dictator then removing the hand set 54 from its support, he will reserve the machine for his further use, and this reservation will be made known at all other dictating stations by the fact that the busy lights are then again on.

I have herein shown and described my invention in terms of a certain preferred form of remotely-controlled dictation-recording system, but it will be understood that this particular embodiment is intended to be illustrative and not necessarily limitative of my invention since my invention is subject to many changes and modifications without departure from the scope and spirit thereof. Also, it Will be understood that many features of my invention are applicable to other than remote dictation-recording machines such as to the usual machine where the dictator sits Within reach of the controls on the machine itself, and that I intend no unnecessary limitation to remotely-controlled dictationrecording systems. I intend to cover in the following claims all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the in- Vention.

I claim:

l. In a remotely-controlled phonographic system comprising an attendants station including a phonographic machine having a rotatable record-supporting device, a translating device. means mounting one of said devices for traveling movement relative to the other, and drive means for rotating said record-supporting device and for effecting traveling movement of said one device: the combination of a remote operators station including operators equipment comprising a transducer and an on-oi station switch for said machine; circuit means for connecting said transducer and station switch to said phonographic machine; means controlled by said station switch to render said machine operable from said operators station when said station switch is in on position; a sound-type signaling device at said attendants station, an intermediate end switch operable by said one device as the same passes a selected intermediate point in its path of travel spaced substantially from the end of its travel range, and means controlled by said station switch and said intermediate end switch to cause said signaling device to be energized when said station switch is returned by the operator to oil position while said one device is beyond said intermediate point.

2. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system comprising an attendants station including a recording machine having a movable record-supporting device, a recording device, means mounting one of said devices for traveling movement relative to the other, and controllable drive means for moving said recordsupporting device and for concurrently effecting traveling movement of said one device: the combination of a remote dictators station including a mi-crophone, a station switch, and start-stop means for said drive means; means controlled by said station switch to connect said microphone to said recording device and said start-stop means to said drive means when said station switch is in on position; and means to apprise when a dictator has finished using the system after having recorded beyond a predetermined point of travel of said one device, comprising an indicating device, an intermediate end switch operable by said one device as the same is advan-ced through said predetermined point, and means controlled by said station switch and said intermediate end switch to render said indicating device operative as said station switch is moved to oif position while said intermediate switch is in operated position.

3. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system comprising an attendants station including a recording machine having a movable record-supporting device, a recording device, means mounting one of said devices for traveling movement relative to the other, and drive means for moving said record-supporting device and for concurrently effecting traveling movement of said one device: `the combination of a plurality of remote dictators stations each. including. a microphone, a station switch, and startstop means for said drive means; inter-station means for operatively connecting said microphones to said recording device via said station switches and for connecting said start-stop means to said drive means whereby a dictator at each station may record dictation spoken into said microphone on placing the respective station switch in closed position and said start-stop means in start position; and means to apprise when a dictator has finished using the system after having recorded beyond a predetermined point of travel ofv said one device spaced substantially from the end of. its travel range, comprising an indicating device, an intermediate end switch operable by said one device as the same is advanced through said predetermined point, a relay coil having an associated pair of contacts, means connecting said relay coil to said station switches whereby the coil is energized when any one of said station switches is closed, and circuit means including said intermediate end switch and said relay contacts for controlling said indicating device to cause said indicating device. to be operative when all of said station switches are in open position and said intermediate end swit-ch is in operated position.

4. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system comprising an attendants station including a recording machine having a movable record-supporting device, a recording device, means mounting one of said devices for traveling movement relative to the other, drive means for moving said record-supporting device and for concurrently effecting traveling movement of said one device, and a drive control relay for said drive means:V the combination of a remote dictators station including: a microphone, a receiver and start-stop means for said drive means; for connecting said microphone and receiver in one. lineto said attendantfs station and for connecting said start-stop means to said drive control relay; iirst and second end switches operable sequentially by said` one device as the same is advanced through a predetermined endportion of itsy forward travel; signaling meansA for producing distinguishable warning signals; meanscontrolled by said rst end switch for causing said signaling meansto feed a warning signal into'- said line: when the dictator `has' recorded to said predetermined end portion, said warning signal being of such character that it does not destroy the intelligibility of the signals to be recorded from said microphone; and means controlled by said second end switch when the dictator has: recorded through said predetermined end portion for stopping said drive meansV and for causing said signaling means to feed a warning signal into said line adapted to destroy the intelligibility of the signals to be recorded from said microphone.

5. In a machine including a record support, translating means, means mounting said sup'- port and translating means for relativetraveling movement, and drive means for producing saidrelative traveling movement: the combination of a dictators microphone and receiver; a communication linefor connecting said microphone andy receiver to said translating means; means for producing low and high level signals respectively; means, including a control switch operable. by said drive means as said translating means reaches a, predetermined point near the end of the record, for feeding a low-level warning signal from said signal producing means into said communication line when the translating means reaches said predetermined point; and means, including a control switch operable by said drive means when said translating means reaches substantially the end of the record, for feeding a relatively high-level signal from said signal producing means into said line when the translating means reaches thev end of the record.

6. In ,a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system including. a dictating machine having al movable record-supporting device, recording and reproducing translating devices, means mounting said translating devices for traveling movement relative tosaid supporting device, a drive motor, and a drive transmission including a clutch whereby the drive motor effects movement of said supporting device and concurrent relative traveling move-ment of said translating devices: the combination of a communication circuit leading from said dictating machine to a remote station and including. a source of direct current, a resistance-type microphone, a receiver, a primary winding of an audio transformer, and first, second and third relays adapted to operate at successively-higher current levels; manuallyoperable current-controlmeans in said communication circuit selectively operable to establish in said circuit rst, second and third current levels to operate said relays respectively; .means controlled by said iirst relay for starting said motor; means controlled by said second relay for closing said clutch; and means controlled by said thirdv rela-y forl conditioning said system for recording on or reproducing from the record.

'7. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system having a, phonographic mach-ine for recording on. a supported record and for effecting playback: the combination of an electrically-operable indexing device effective when momentarily energized to make an indication for a transcriber; a remote operators station having a transducer connected to the audio apparatus of said phonographic machine and having an onoff' station controlv means connected to .said phonographic machine and effective when moved to on position to condition said machine for start-stop operation; a start-stop means at said station for said machine; means for supplying energizing current to said indexing device including circut-preparing means; means controlled by said start-stop means and effective as said startstoprmeansis moved to startA position for operating said preparing means; and means controlled by said on-oif station control means and effective as said station control means is moved to off position while said preparing means is operated for rendering said current-supplying means operallVe'.

8. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system having apparatus for recording on asupported record and for effecting. playback, and including an indexingdevice for making indications for a tr-anscriber: the combination of a remote dictators station including an on-off switch; circuit means for connecting said remote station to said apparatus via said station switch; means for operating said indexing device including a controllable switch means and operation-preparing means having eifective and neifective conditions; current-energizable means for controlling said switch means; and means connecting said current-energizable means in said circuit means to cause operation of said indexing device upon interruption of said circuit means by said station switch while said preparing means is in effective condition.

9. In a dictation-recording system having apparatus for recording on a moving record including a recording device and drive means including a motor and clutch: the combination of a dictators station; a communication circuit leading from said station to said recording apparatus and having therein a source of D.C. potential; means in said circuit at said station including a resistance-type microphone, a station switch, a series resistance and a control switch operable to increase the level of direct current in said circuit; means in said communication circuit at said recording apparatus comprising a first relay operable by the lower-level current in said circuit when said station switch is closed, and comprising a second relay operable by the higher-level current in said communication circuit when said control switch is also closed; a motor circuit controlled by said rst delay to start said motor when said station switch is closed; a clutch circuit controlled by said second relay to engage said clutch when said control switch is closed; an indexing device for making indications for a transcriber; and means for operating said indexing device as an incident of opening said station switch while said control switch is held closed, comprising a, current-supply circuit for said indexing device, means operable by said second relay for preparing said circuit for energization of said indexing device, and means operable by deenergization of said rst relay while said preparing means is operated for closing said supply circuit.

10. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein the signals produced by said signaling means are fed via said receiver to said dictator, including an attendants signaling means, and means controlled by said second control switch for causing said attendants signaling means to operate when the dictator has recorded to substantially said end of the record.

11. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system including apparatus for recording on a moving record and a plurality of remote dictators stations: the combination of busy-signaling means at said stations; operating apparatus at said dictators stations and respective circuit means for connecting said stations in parallel with said recording apparatus whereby a, dictator at any one station may record dictation on said record; on-ofl switches at said stations respectively; means eifective when any station switch is closed to cause all of said busy-signaling means to give busy signals; means at said recording apparatus for signaling an attendant when a change of record is needed comprising a sound signaling device; an intermediate switch operable by said recording apparatus when a dictator records beyond a predetermined point on a record; means, operable upon all of said station switches being in open position and said intermediate switch being in operated position, for energizing said attendants sound signaling device; and means controlled by said intermediate switch and effective while said intermediate switch is operated for maintaining said busysignaling means in operation at all stations independently of the positioning of said station switches.

12. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system including apparatus for recording on a moving record and a plurality of remote dictator's stations: the combination of busy-signaling means at Asaid stations; circuit means connecting said stations in parallel with said recording apparatus whereby a dictator at any one station may record dictation on said record; on-off switches at said stations respectively; circuit means effective when any station switch is closed to cause all of said busy-signaling means to give busy signals of normal character; an intermediate switch operable by said recording apparatus when a dictator records beyond a predetermined point on the record; and means controlled by said intermediate switch and said station switches and effective when all of 4said station switches are open and said intermediate switch is in operated position to cause said busy-signaling means to give busy signals of different character.

13. In a remotely-controlled phonographic system comprising an attendants station including a phonographic machine having a rotatable record-supporting device, a translating device, means mounting one of said devices for traveling movement relative to the other, and drive means for rotating said record-supporting device and for effecting traveling movement of said one device: the combination of a remote operators station including a transducer and an on-oif station switch for said machine; interstation circuit means connecting said transducer and station switch to said phonographic machine to enable operation of said machine from said operators station when said station switch is in on position; a busy-signaling means at said remote station; means to cause said busy-signaling means to be effective while said station switch is in on position; a control switch and means to cause the same to be operated as said one device passes a selected intermediate point in its path of travel; and means rendered effective by Said control switch while the same is in operated position to maintain said busy-signaling means in operation independently of the positioning of said station switch.

14. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system: the combination of a dictating machine including relatively movable record-supporting and record-cooperable translating devices, and drive means for moving one of said devices through a prescribed range of travel; a plurality of dictators stations each including a microphone, a start-stop control for said drive means and an on-off station switch; circuits for connecting said stations to said machine; a control circuit connected to a source of potential and including a current-energizable element utilized in the control of said system; first and second switches in said control circuit effective to cause an operation of said current-energizable element when both switches are placed in predetermined respective positions; means for placing one 0f said switches in its said predetermined position by said one device as said one device in its travel passes a predetermined intermediate point spaced substantially from the end of its travel range; and means controlled by said station switches and effective to place the second of said switches in its said predetermined position only when all of said station switches are in off positions.

15. In a remotely-controlled dictation-recording system including an attendants station hava dictating machine, said machine including a supporting device onto and from which a record may be mounted and removed, a record-cooperable translating device and drive means for moving one of said devices through a prescribed range of travel including a drive motor: the combination of a plurality of remote dictators stations each including a microphone, start-stop means for said drive means and an on-ofi station switch; circuit means for connecting said remote stations to said phonographic machine; means connected to said circuit means for starting said drive motor when any one of the station switches of said remote stations is closed; and means for signaling an attendant to change a record on said supporting device when a dictator finishes dictating after having recorded beyond a predetermined point of travel of said one device spaced substantially from the end of its travel range, comprising an attendants sound buzzer, an intermediate end switch, means for causing operation of said intermediate end switch as said one device passes said intermediate point, means controlled by said intermediate end switch and said station switches and effective when said intermediate end switch is in operated position and all oi said station switches are in open position for rendering said buzzer operative, an attendants light signaling means, and means for controlling said light signaling means according to whether said drive motor is running or not.

16. In a dictation-recording system including an attendants station having apparatus for rec- Ording progressively on a supported record: the combination of a plurality of dictators stations each including an on-off station switch; circuit means for connecting said dictators stations to said recording apparatus; means at each of said dictators stations operable upon the respective station switch being moved to on position for controlling said recording apparatus to record dictation via said circuit means; an attendants sound-type signaling device; an intermediate end switch operated by said recording apparatus as recordation proceeds to an intermediate end Zone on the record; means to cause said sound-type signaling device to be put into operation upon all of said station switches being placed into "oi position while said intermediate end switch is in operated position; a device at said attendants station for producing a light signal; and means controlled by said station switches and influencing said light signaling device for producing a change in the signaling of said light signaling device between a condition when all of said station switches are in off position and a condition when at least one of any of said station switches is in on position.

17. The combination set forth in claim 16 including means connecting said intermediate end witch to said energizing circuit for said light signaling device and means controlled by said intermediate end switch and by said station switches for causing said light signaling device to produce a light signal of one character when said intermediate end switch is in operated position and all of said station switches are in on position and to produce a light signal of another character when said intermediate end switch is in operated position and any one of said station switches is in closed position.

18. In a remotely-controlled ddctation-recording system comprising an attendants station inoluding a dictating machine having a movable support onto and from which a record may be mounted and removed, a record-cooperable recording device, and drive means operative to produce a relative advance movement between said record support and recording device for scanning a supported record by said device, said machine being arranged so that the time of scanning a complete record is equal to the recordation time of a plurality of prescribed average dictation periods: the combination of a plurality of remote dictators stations and interstation wiring for connecting each dictators station to said dictating machine; apparatus at each dictators station for operating said dictating machine to record dictation, said apparatus at each dictators station including an on-oiiz` station switch for connecting certain elements of said apparatus to said machine via said interstation wiring to enable recordation of dictation from the station while the station switch is in on position; a control device operated by said machine in response to relative advance movement between said record support and translating device past a predetermined scanning point where the scanning time remaining on the record is of the order of that required for a single one of said dictation periods; electrically-energizable means to be operated in the control of said recording system; and means controlled by said station switches and control device for causing operation of said electrically-energizable means upon all of said station switches being in oii' posi tion while said translating device is advanced beyond said predetermined scanning point.

19. The combination set forth in claim 18 wherein said electrically-energizable means comprises a busy signaling means at each dictators station and an attendants signaling means at said attendants station for informing the attendant to change the record on said support.

RICHARD KOBLER.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,206,987 Clausen Dec. 5, 1916 2,042,228 Huenlich May 26, 1936 2,066,672 De Berard et al. Jan. 5, 1937 2,151,951 Warren Mar. 28, 1939 2,200,351 Whitehead et al. May 14, 1940 2,277,207 Chenoweth et al. Mar. 24, 1942v 2,305,681 Dunning Dec. 22, 1942 2,306,614 Clausen Dec. 29, 1942 2,333,235 Clausen Nov. 2, 1943 2,366,956 Clausen Jan. 9, 1945 2,375,525 Clausen May 8, 1945 2,489,396 Bowne Nov. 29, '1949 2,497,037 Somers Feb. 7, 1950 

